McXal's Reviews

At the last set of SHIMMER tapings, the landscape in the promotion markedly changed. Saraya Knight unceremoniously took the SHIMMER Championship that Cheerleader Melissa had been working since Volume 1 to obtain, the popular duo of Sara Del Rey and Courtney Rush took home the SHIMMER Tag Titles in something of an upset, whilst talents like Athena, Mia Yim, Kellie Skater and the Canadian NINJAs continued their rise to prominence and stand on the cusp of the main event scene. More change greets us as the autumn tapings of 2012 arrive. Not least that the ace of SHIMMER and the foundation upon which the entire promotion was built - Sara Del Rey - has now departed. She and Rush dropped the Tag Titles to the Canadian NINJAS at an NCW Femmes Fatales event in July and after almost 50 shows, SHIMMER Women Athletes now faces the reality that the Death Rey has contested her final bout. Joshi stalwart Ayumi Kurihara has essentially gone as well - returning for just a single Volume in 2013 before her retirement. Jessie McKay - a well-liked mainstay of the promotion over recent years - isn't at these tapings and only works the Spring 2013 shows before her own departure. The fun thing about SHIMMER in 2012, however, is that the roster is so utterly stacked that you don't worry about their ability to withstand those losses. Kurihara might be missing, but Tomoka Nakagawa, Yumi Ohka and Hiroyo Matsumoto are back. Ryo Mizunami makes her SHIMMER debut too. This show is headlined by back-to-back major title clashes as the Canadian NINJAS defend their Tag Titles against the dangerous Kana/LuFisto duo, then Saraya Knight makes her first defence of the SHIMMER Championship against the 'Wrestling Goddess' Athena. At the top of a card which also features Volume 1 veterans Mercedes Martinez and MsChif locking horns, and an international dream match pitting Ayako Hamada against Kalamity. Dave Prazak and Portia Perez provide post-production commentary on all the action, taped in Berwyn, IL.

The Canadian NINJAS celebrate 49 Volumes of being 'the most fighting champions' in the history of the company. They are through listening to 'veterans' and don't need to 'prove themselves' anymore. They are the champions, and think the likes of Regeneration-X don't deserve title shots. 

It was 2008 the last time 'Miss Natural' Heather Patera appeared in SHIMMER. She lost matches at Volumes 21/22, and is back for another crack - against an opponent who comes in with momentum after finally getting a SHIMMER win of her own. Spinelli defeated the New York Knockout at Volume 48, and will have her eyes set on another victory to kick off the weekend.

Natural attacks Spinelli from behind in a nefarious start to the contest, but KC quickly returns fire and drives her out of the ring. Spinelli controls proceedings for the next minute, until Patera smashes her across the neck and gives her a couple of backbreakers. That is followed with a big fallaway slam for 2 as Miss Natural starts to extend her advantage. Spinelli tries to rally again, but this time a flurry of blows to the midsection quickly snuff out her comeback. KC keeps throwing shots at Miss Natural but it is clear the sustained attacks on her are taking their toll. Natural Disaster countered with a fisherman suplex from Spinelli, but she can't hold onto a bridge to pin her opponent. Natural Disaster nailed second time of asking, giving Natural a big comeback victory at 06:22

Rating - ** - This was a deceptively lively opening match. Spinelli was full of fire and tenacity, whilst Miss Natural got decent heel heat and worked a solid, relatable strategy which directly led her to victory in the match. The result was perhaps a little surprising considering Spinelli has been featured more recently and just won her last match, but on commentary Prazak was putting Natural over hard as a veteran with esteemed training influences like Ken Patera and Harley Race. She really did look sound here; clearly being given a chance to establish a more permanent spot for herself. And I'll end with an early word of praise for the SHIMMER crowd, who by this point are so well established in the Berwyn Eagles Club and are a lively, reactive bunch even for low level matches like this. It really does enhance the product when being taped in a small building like this.

Saraya Knight may be champion now, but she is still obsessing over Cheerleader Melissa it seems. She seethes with rage as she delivers a promo blaming Melissa for making it personal and gloats that after five years she was able to get revenge in Melissa's 'own back yard' by taking her SHIMMER Championship. She ends by congratulating Athena for earning a title shot and looks forward to their match tonight...

This taping marks Ohka's return to SHIMMER, after she debuted at the October 2011 weekend. Those shows saw her gain victories over Mia Yim and Courtney Rush, but succumb to defeats against Sara Del Rey and Serena Deeb. CVE's stature has started to grow over recent volumes, and her alliance with MsChif has proven popular with fans too. A win over one of the visiting Joshi contingent would only enhance her status still more.

Portia reveals that Christina is preparing for her first tour of Japan, putting an even greater significance on this match for her. They probe each other for weaknesses on the canvas, with Yumi going for an armbar then biting the arm of her opponent to get ahead. She then blasts CVE with a mafia kick in the corner to extend that lead. Von Eerie returns fire with a back fist into an enziguri, then clings to a cobra clutch before Ohka is able to get any distance to recover. Yumi shows her skill by countering that into a lungblower though, and almost knocks Von Eerie out with a Saito suplex seconds later. Tiger Suplex blocked by Christina, who stays on the ground and tries to submit Ohka with a bow and arrow. Yumi hammers her way free with more kicks...then nails a Chokebomb for the win at 07:15

Rating - ** - As with the opener, this was thoroughly decent. I liked the story this one told, with Von Eerie desperate to prove a point and rise up the card (both in SHIMMER and in preparation for her upcoming Japanese tour) therefore fighting incredibly valiantly, but never really feeling like she fully bridged the gap to someone with the skill and precision of Ohka. Every time it felt like CVE gained ground, Yumi pulled something out which emphatically put her back in her place. 

The 'Made In Sin' duo are making their debut as a team tonight; they are Taylor Made and Allysin Kay. Made has made a handful of appearances thus far without much success, whilst this is a first main-show appearance for Kay. McKenzie and Scott have teamed a few times - both relative newcomers to the roster themselves. In matches like this, where everyone is scrambling to establish themselves in SHIMMER, getting a victory feels particularly critical.

Prazak and Portia attribute Made's new surly, aggressive demeanour to the 'bad influence' of Kay. Despite that aggression it's the speed and tenacity of Scott and McKenzie which play the biggest factor early on as they lay in a number of early shots - including double dropkicking Allysin so hard that she collapses to the floor. Taylor illegally trips Veda from the outside in the aftermath though, giving Made In Sin a route back into the contest. Kay is a tall, powerful athlete and she tosses Scott around with ease. She finds time to spit and Shazza as well, with the Australian then causing a scene and allowing Made In Sin to get in a few cheapshots on her partner. Veda hits a frantic back suplex on Made and crawls into a vital tag, unleashing Shazza who drops Kay with a wheelbarrow bulldog. Shazzadriver COUNTERED to a big suplex by Allysin! Made In Sin give Shazza an elevated double cutter (Prazak calls it the 'Seven Deadlies'), and grab their debut victory as a team at 07:35

Rating - ** - Probably the weakest match on the card thus far. It wasn't bad at all, but it existed almost wholly to debut Made In Sin and - with such limited scope - it went longer than it really needed to. Veda and Shazza are likeable enough, but haven't connected with the Berwyn crowd to such an extent that they are super-beloved babyfaces yet. They were fine in their role, Made and Kay likewise with what they were doing. But nothing really stood out here; you got what they were trying to do...but you got it within a minute or so of the match starting, leaving you with a whole load of relatively sterile wrestling to get through before the finish.

Rhia O'Reilly smirks to Amber Gertner about Cheerleader Melissa losing the SHIMMER Title to Saraya (one of Rhia's trainers). She plans to keep Melissa's losing streak going when they meet tonight.

Matsumoto is one of the most popular, and most dangerous of all the Joshi talents that have come through SHIMMER. She missed the last set of tapings, but will have her eye very much on the top-end of the card. If she wants Saraya Knight then she needs to come back strong and defeat tough opponents like Stephie (who once again has Mademoiselle Rochelle in her corner).

Given that her opponent is nicknamed the 'Lady Destroyer', it is no surprise that Stephie looks to keep things methodically paced and grapple-heavy in the early going. She tries to bite Hiroyo, but is astonished to see Matsumoto bite her back twice as hard...before cleaning her out with a big dropkick. Sassy tries to choke Hiroyo in the corner, but it's only when Rochelle trips Matsumoto from the floor that Stephie really cements herself in the match. She uses the distraction to attack the Lady Destroyer from behind, then bounces her head off the ring apron. Matsumoto injures her hand throwing a chop at the spiked top of Stephie - and Sassy immediately targets the hand with stomps and bites. Rochelle grabs a chance to choke her in the ropes too. Last Chancery by Stephie, and when Matsumoto escapes that she drops her again with a neckbreaker. Stunner in the ropes from Hiroyo, but she needs time to recover on the floor before finally unleashing a spinning sidewalk slam...and Stephie again punishes the neck with a version of the Ghana-rea moments later. Stephie tries to trade shots with Hiroyo...but is drilled with a brainbuster, bringing Rochelle onto the apron to protest. Matsumoto goes after Rochelle...DOUBLE BACK DROP DRIVER! She takes out both Rochelle and Stephie in one go! She then scoops Rochelle up on her back to add extra weight for a double knee drop into Stephie's midsection! HIROYO STONE! Matsumoto wins at 09:05

Rating - *** - Matsumoto really is great fun to watch. She is immediately likeable, yet still entirely believable as a hard-hitting bad-ass when it is time to wrestle. As such, she made a brilliant opponent for a nefarious (if somewhat predictable) villainous wrestler/manager pairing like Stephie and Rochelle. This was a big opportunity for Sassy Stephie and she equipped herself admirably. Some of the outside interference was unimaginative, but inside ring Stephie did some fun things - like working the hand after Hiroyo injured it on her spiked top, or targeting all her offence onto Matsumoto's neck as a set-up for her own finishing move the 'Kiss My Sass'. 

We see closing moments of the Del Rey/Rush vs Canadian NINJAS SHIMMER Tag Title bout at NCW Femmes Fatales. On that night Sara abandoned Courtney and walked out on her partner (just as she did during her final SHIMMER appearance), and this time Rush couldn't pull off another miracle - succumbing to defeat against Perez and Matthews. 

Reviewing this show in 2023, Mizunami is more recently recognisable to a western audience thanks to her various appearances with AEW (she won an eliminator tournament and even challenged Hikaru Shida for the AEW Women's Title). Here, a decade earlier, we see her in her mid-20's (with plenty of experience even at that age) making her SHIMMER debut. It is a big match for Rush too, who needs to rebound after  losing the Tag Titles so quickly - and being abandoned by Sara Del Rey in the process.

Rush wears a 'Death Rey' shirt and comes out to 'Final Countdown', clearly refusing to let her 'friendship' with the now-departed SDR go. As we've reached 2012 that inevitably morphs into Bryan Danielson/Daniel Bryan 'YES' chanting too. Ryo is unmoved by the antics of her opponent and is all business from the outset however. Courtney throws a few big elbows at her to prove that she isn't all fun and games though, which immediately triggers Mizunami to trap her on the ground in a headlock. The Joshi visitor shows off her power with a rugged, stalling body slam - then cranks onto a Boston crab to do more damage to Rush's midsection. Courtney retaliates with a Sling Blade, albeit she already looks pretty ragged and fatigued. Ryo blocks the Skyward Suplex by punching at the arm, and she tugs at the same limb again to drag Rush into a torture rack. Courtney escapes, dropkicks the knees and lands a sliding DDT. Mizunami blocks an axe kick and violently tackles her foe into the turnbuckles. Leg drop dodged though...and Rush delivers a Del Rey-inspired capo kick in the corner. ROYAL BUTTERFLY...but Ryo slides out, again by going after Courtney's arm. SPEAR! Mizunami hits a top rope leg drop to win at 09:33

Rating - *** - Del Rey may have departed, but her final gift to SHIMMER was to create a beloved babyface figure in Rush. The Berwyn crowd absolutely adore her, and it really enhanced this match. At times it was a little disjointed but the crowd support for Rush added so much to her as a sympathetic babyface. Mizunami reminded me a little of watching ECW-era Taz in that she doesn't necessarily show a huge range of emotions, but wrestled the match like a diminutive bulldozer looking to plough straight through her opponent. I'm not sure Rush was the best opponent for her in that regard; she'd possibly have been better-placed in a straight-up, smash-mouth fight...and perhaps there will be time for that later in the weekend.

Kellie Skater checks in to talk about her hectic international schedule including dates in Japan, Australia, the US and Canada. Nevertheless, she is ready to climb the SHIMMER roster...

This is Melissa's first SHIMMER appearance since she was robbed of the title at Volume 48. That night her bitter, vengeful rival Sweet Saraya injured her leg backstage then viciously picked her apart in the ring before defeating her to take the belt Melissa worked so hard to win. So Melissa returns to the ranks of course desperate to earn a rematch with her arch nemesis. To do so she'll first need to go through O'Reilly; a trainee of Saraya...

Melissa is unnervingly smiley and jovial during her entrance...but once the bell rings she snaps into action and starts bashing Rhia's arm into the canvas. O'Reilly tries to pull her hair to escape...and the Cheerleader absolutely BATTERS her into the corner. Rhia is fighting for her life here, but can't get out of the starting blocks as Melissa circles her and picks her apart with bruising slams and stretches on the canvas. O'Reilly somehow survives, and keeps finding ways to pull the hair as she tries to fight back. She has a handful of it as she slams her head into the turnbuckles, and gives the hair another tug as she flips into a neckbreaker. And now she starts attacking the legs, looking to exploit the same injury that Saraya targeted on V48. The Irish fighter tries to impair Melissa's breathing too, with a combination of chokes and heavy strikes to the midsection sucking the wind out of her. Finlay Roll blocked with a Samoan drop by the Cheerleader...but she slumps to the ground alongside Rhia, such is the damage she has now sustained. The former champion unleashes a flurry of elbows...into a Curb Stomp for 2. O'Reilly COUNTERS the Air Raid Crash into an exploder suplex though! Rhi-adjustment blocked...back to the Air Raid Crash! Melissa wins at 09:10

Rating - *** - Certainly O'Reilly's best SHIMMER match thus far. She was really good in this, combining a strong performance putting over how brutal Melissa can be, with some really clever and cerebral offensive touches as well. It was a smart little match with Melissa setting out to dominate Rhia, only to find that Saraya's training had left the Irishwoman more resourceful and outright tough than she'd expected. I thought the finishing sequence was great too, featuring a couple of really slick counters. 

Nakagawa is another of the Joshi contingent who missed the spring tapings so returns to SHIMMER after effectively a one-year absence. She lost three of her four matches across the V41-44 weekend last year too, so has had to wait a long time to atone for some of those defeats. Rose went 0-4 at the last tapings too (albeit her singles losses were to Mercedes Martinez, the Canadian NINJAS and Kellie Skater) so has a big weekend ahead of her as well. This is actually Davina's final SHIMMER weekend before signing with the WWE in late-2012 and going onto global success as Bayley.

Nakagawa looks to come out and dominate, but is met with fierce resistance as Davina is able to go hold-for-hold with her. Rose hits a few lucha armdrags and gets warm applause from the crowd...but they don't impress Tomoka who simply grabs her by the hair and jerks her to the mat. Bow and arrow applied, before launching Davina right onto her face when she refuses to submit. Next she delivers a dropkick to the exposed lower back whilst Rose is hung in the ropes. Nakagawa wants to spit water in her opponent's face, but is prevented by the referee - giving Davina just enough time to lay in some strikes. She creates space; continually charging at Tomoka with tackles and clotheslines...until Nakagawa smartens up to that and levels her with a gamengiri. Fisherman suplex countered into a neckbreaker by Rose - and she goes back to building distance between her and her opponent, then using that distance to sprint at her with strikes. Rose Plant countered to the CRB chinlock! Still Rose won't let Nakagawa hit the Fisherman Suplex though. Once more she tries to create space and charge...but this time it misses, and Nakagawa hits the Fisherman Suplex to score the victory at 08:15

Rating - *** - Arguably the MOTN thus far. A clear, sound, simple babyface/heel match where the nefarious, edgy tactics of Nakagawa contrasted starkly with the whole-hearted, earnest defiance of her opponent. Nakagawa is more experienced and more aggressive, but Davina had boundless energy and resilience. She constantly fought Nakagawa's signature spots, always fought to get out of her clutches so she could run at the Joshi star to deliver impactful strikes of her own. Unfortunately that proved to be her undoing as the ultra-smart Nakagawa wised up to it and used that momentum against her. It's a short, sprint of a match, but perhaps more than any other match in her SHIMMER run thus far, this reminded me of the super-babyface, hugging, NXT-era Bayley that Davina would go on to become. 

Mercedes Martinez is backstage and preparing for her 'battle of the SHIMMER originals' with MsChif later. Last time they fought MsChif was SHIMMER Champion, but Mercedes says her opponent 'doesn't matter anymore'. Her promo veers into a little bit of Scott Steiner maths, talking about percentages and injuries...but the point is made that in 2012 she thinks she is far better than MsChif. We'll found out later...

This is a hugely interesting match between two popular, rising stars on the roster. The excitable Bates has blossomed under the wing of her Regeneration-X tag partner Allison Danger, and they are campaigning for a Tag Title shot at the Canadian NINJAs. Skater, meanwhile, has fought hard to cast off the idea that her 'Indestructible Rate Tank' gimmick is for entertainment. She now competes against the best all around the world and feels ready to take her SHIMMER career to the next level. Bates is dressed as Catwoman for this one, and whilst her tag partner Allison Danger does accompany her to the ring, Allison returns to the locker room before the match begins.

Portia Perez runs through her favourite Catwoman actresses and ranks Leva firmly at the bottom of the list. Nevertheless, Bates dominates the opening minutes as her antics completely unsettle the Rate Tank. There are some legitimate wrestling holds mixed in there, albeit among a flurry of Catwoman poses, cat scratches and other general gimmick infringement on poor Cat Power (which Prazak even points out). Skater is frustrated and starts trying to overpower Leva; unleashing a barrage of strikes and suplexes. She then outright muscles Bates right into the air as Leva attempts a DDT - absolutely dumping her with a Samoan drop for 2. Camel clutch applied to throttle the fight out of Bates, and even when Bates escapes the strikes she is able to muster look particularly ragged and fatigued...and Kellie soon dumps her again with a German suplex. Bates tries a sleeper hold (just about), but Skater carries her all the way to her corner and grabs her 'Roo Roids' before busting out of the sleeper. Spear from Leva...so the Rate Tank grabs a leg and cranks onto an Ankle Lock. She tries one last suplex, but Bates finally counters something; landing on her feet (like a cat) and hitting a reverse DDT for 2. She applies a hanging front choke in the ropes, before scrambling up the ropes to hit a BRUTAL missile dropkick to the neck for 2! Kellie kicks out the leg again and hits Skate & Destroy to win at 11:42

Rating - ** - This is one of the longest matches on the entire show. In a way that feels like a strange choice, but they actually benefitted greatly from the extra time they received here. Some of the early exchanges were pretty poor (and I found Leva's 'Catwoman' stuff incredibly annoying; not at all entertaining). The whole match was punctuated by some really sloppy work by Bates in all honesty, who had a match she'll want to forget in a hurry. I'm not sure whether her gear (a heavy, full-body PVC catsuit and head-encompassing cap too) was a factor...but if so it makes the inane Catwoman skit even more infuriating. Thankfully Kellie was much better, and carried a lot of this with her intensity and in the way she contrasted her power and Japanese influences with some of the silliness across the ring from her. And because they went a little longer, they were able to ride out a few rough patches - before putting together a pretty dramatic closing sequence where the fatigued Leva wailed away frantically at Skater's head and neck trying to force victory...before ultimately being put to bed by the clinical Rate Tank. Had they not had the extra few minutes of breathing space, they'd never have found the time to salvage a rather sloppy encounter with those moments of genuine excitement.

Athena reminisces about her SHIMMER career thus far, and summarises that in the O-Face she has a finishing move which can put away anyone on the roster - even the champion Saraya.

This is a big collision between two veterans of SHIMMER Volume 1, with each at a crossroads in their respective SHIMMER careers. As Mercedes pointed out in her promo, she unsuccessfully challenged MsChif on two occasions during Chif's SHIMMER Title reign. But since then she feels that MsChif has fallen into irrelevance; weakened by injuries and now further down the card working tags and more comedic matches. And Martinez doesn't want that to be her reality. She was bested by the 'Wrestling Goddess' Athena is fed up of being seen as a stepping stone for the next generation of SHIMMER talent. The Latina Sensation still feels she has what it takes to be the Ace and top star in the promotion and will look to make that point by finally besting MsChif in a SHIMMER ring. Can she do it? Or can MsChif prove she too still has a future at the very top of the SHIMMER roster with a victory over a fellow 'OG'?

Tellingly, MsChif is wrestling with her shoulder taped - which is testament to some of the injury struggles which has somewhat restricted the former SHIMMER champion in recent shows. Mercedes drags her to the mat by the hair and immediately starts bludgeoning her with forearms. Chif is a veteran though and withstands that before hitting a headcissors takedown, followed by a couple of neckbreakers for 2. That triggers Martinez into poking the eyes and nailing a vicious German suplex. The Latina Sensation continues to bully MsChif; tossing her around the ring by the hair and hammering her with heavy-handed strikes at every turn. Panic Attack by MsChif, although she stumbles and almost collapses into her opponent whilst hitting it...and soon after Martinez blocks an attempted standing moonsault with big boots into Chif's ribs. MsChif's upper chest is covered in bloody welts as a result of how hard Martinez has been hitting her throughout the contest. Three Amigas blocked though...and MsChif satellites into a crucifix stretch, desperately trying to target Mercedes' own historically injured shoulder. Desecrator blocked, so instead Chif loads up the shoulder again and hits an arm-captured facebuster for 2. Still Martinez blocks the Desecrator...but in response Chif evades the Bull Run - and accidentally clocks the ref with a clothesline. BACK DROP DRIVER by Martinez! But with no official to count the pin she decides to bring a steel chair into the ring. STEEL CHAIR TO THE BACK! BULL RUN! The revived ref counts the pin at 09:44

Rating - *** - This was a great little match, only lacking a better finish to elevate it higher in my rankings. The wrestling wasn't cutting edge, but they told such an awesome little story which perfectly captured where these two SHIMMER veterans were in their careers in October 2012. Martinez is frustrated; angry at her sustained failure to reach the levels she's seen her contemporaries like MsChif, Sara Del Rey and Cheerleader Melissa reach and now ready to do whatever it takes to follow them to the SHIMMER Title. MsChif, meanwhile, has become dramatically less relevant since losing the belt more than two years ago. Where Martinez was motivated by a desire to get to the very top, MsChif was fighting valiantly to prove she still belonged. To prove she was still in the same class as the biggest names in SHIMMER. This had all the hallmarks of some of MsChif's best matches; with her resilience and ability to withstand a wicked beating and continually use her innovative moveset and unique flexibility to unsettle opponents. It nearly worked too. But unfortunately her resilience isn't what it was in 2008. She isn't as dynamic, flexible and agile as she was then. And with injuries slowing her down...confronted with an aggressive opponent who now has no respect for the rules, ultimately MsChif couldn't survive. It was a gripping story that actually deserved a better, longer, more grandiose and dramatic match to really tell it the way it deserved to be told. 

This is a huge weekend for Kalamity. Her occasional SHIMMER tag partner Hailey Hatred would never make it back to the promotion, meaning Kalamity is now flying solo. She has made a huge impression with her bruising, imposing style - but now gets put to the ultimate test as she takes on respected international veteran star Ayako Hamada. The Joshi and Lucha legend Hamada herself has something to prove here, since this is her first SHIMMER match since she and Ayumi Kurihara lost the Tag Titles at V48.

The opening minute is full of tension as two alphas who are used to imposing their will on their opponents cautiously jostle for superiority. Kalamity is respectful and offers Hamada a couple of clean-breaks, whilst Ayako shows her experience by trying to focus on out-wrestling her adversary and goes to work on the arm. STF next when the Canadian athlete tries to counter some of those stretches. Now feeling more confident, Hamada pokes fun at Kalamity for her (lack of) height...but soon has the smile wiped off her face as Kalamity's power is such that she can't force her to the ground. Again, though, the veteran has a plan to counter that; blasting Kalamity with quick strikes to ground her again. Finally Kalamity has a way into the match though - because she feels confident trading strikes with the veteran. She retaliates with an emphatic volley of kicks then batters Hamada with elbows as well when she tumbles to the canvas. She loads up the diving elbow smash in the corner, but Hamada has it scouted and slides away to hit a flying crossbody block. A missile dropkick follows; Kalamity unable to keep pace with Hamada as she flies at her from all sides. Pyramid Driver blocked with another huge elbow by Kalamity though! She levels Ayako with a flatliner for 2...only to find Hamada able to counter the Kalamity-ville Horror Driver seconds later. GERMAN SUPLEX by Hamada! NO SOLD! LARIAT BY KALAMITY! Still she can't hit the Kalamity Driver however, and Hamada blasts her with a Shining Wizard for 2. MOONSAULT MISSES! Spinebuster by Kalamity gets a nearfall. SPINNING HEEL KICK by Hamada! AP CROSS! Hamada wins at 11:34

Rating - *** - A nice contrast to the Martinez/MsChif match that came before it. The story-telling in this one wasn't anywhere near as rich or compelling, but what this one did have was two tough women looking to beat the tar out of each other. They paced this one really well, beginning cautiously but then picking up quickly; always having Hamada push the pace as the veteran seemingly with enough class and firepower to out-gun even someone as hard-hitting as Kalamity. But Kalamity won plaudits too, as she had answers and counters to every question Hamada posed of her - coming within a Kalamity Driver of victory as her brute force and raw power almost proved too much for even someone as seasoned and experienced as her opponent. Hamada's time in SHIMMER has been almost exclusively in tags for the last year, but she's had some of the best matches in the history of the company in singles. With Kurihara missing this weekend, she wrestles four singles contests across the taping. This was a great start and a timely reminder of how extremely good she is. 

Allison Danger accuses Kellie Skater of using illegal substances in order to beat her partner Leva Bates tonight. She and Leva come across Courtney Rush looking forlorn in the corner of the locker room. Courtney feels like she let 'Sara' (Del Rey) down by losing to 'The Miz'. Allison tells her to stop copying Del Rey and be the best version of Courtney Rush instead.

After regaining the SHIMMER Tag Championship, Portia Perez and Nicole Matthews are thrust right into battle defending their belts. Kana burst into SHIMMER in a flurry of violence and disrespect for almost all of the native roster...with the exception of LuFisto. After Kana defeated Lu at V44 they formed a team based on mutual respect, and won their last match heading into this one over MsChif and Christina Von Eerie at Volume 47. These two highly seasoned, top class singles talents pose a huge threat to the Ninjas.

The Ninjas can't agree on who is going to start with Kana; bickering and repeatedly tagging each other in and out rather than square off with the World Famous Joshi star. After a full minute of time-wasting Matthews finally agrees to start...and is quickly sent back to the ropes after a couple of violent slaps. LuFisto hits a crossbody on Nicole too, honing in early on the midsection of her opponent. She starts headbutting the shoulder as well, knowing that her partner has the devastating Kana Lock in her arsenal so softening Matthews up for it. Nicole has seen enough and bails, giving Perez no choice but to get physically involved for the first time. Portia tries to illegally fish-hook Fisto...who blocks it by illegally biting Portia's hand! Perez tries to run away, but this time Lu gives chase and deposits her on her ass again. The fans finally get their wish for Kana to get her hands on Portia...and Kana obliges by absolutely wailing on the Canadian with strikes. Portia has to cling to the ropes for some respite after that. Portia tries to trade strikes with Kana - but just gets BRUTALISED with kicks! The challengers deliver a stunner/dropkick combo too leaving Portia even more vulnerable. Nicole Matthews takes a cheap-shot at LuFisto; kicking her from behind then violently attacking her on the floor with repeated shots to the back. It isn't strictly within the rules, but is a resourceful way for the Ninjas to finally curtail the violent dominance of their opponents and they go to work picking apart LuFisto's back (which has been injured multiple times throughout her career). They take turns stretching her around the ringpost behind the referee's back, only broken when Kana gets pissed off and sprints around the ring to help her partner out. LuFisto hits a swinging front slam on Portia...but collapses in pain due to how damaged her back is. Kana and Nicole are tagged - with Matthews enduring a barrage of strikes from Kana then NAILING a rolling elbow! Cross armbreaker by Kana, broken by Portia! SPEAR from LuFisto to block Funky Cold Medina! GERMAN SUPLEX from Kana to Nicole! Shining Wizard/Buzzsaw kick combo gets 2 - with Portia dragging the ref out of the ring to break the count. Superkick on LuFisto! Nicole blocks the Kana Lock and hits the FUNKY COLD MEDINA! LuFisto saves...but can't hit the Burning Hammer because her back gives out. FUNKY COLD MEDINA AGAIN! Ninjas retain at 16:38

Rating - **** - This was a really fun tag team match, which really steered towards the strengths of all four participants. The first half was spent building up Kana and LuFisto to look like killers; the champions bickering about even having to wrestle Kana and getting brutalised by both challengers. But as we heard in their promo earlier, the Ninjas aren't the new girls any more. They are SHIMMER veterans and a more tenured tag team - and even if they needed to break the rules they withstood the early storm and devised a cunning plan which essentially won the match for them. By attacking LuFisto's historic back injuries they delivered a blow which was fatal to her team's Tag Title hopes, playing directly into the closing sequence when LuFisto couldn't hit her finishing move as a result. Smart wrestling all around, telling a clearly defined story which yielded a rewarding finish and helps solidify the Canadian NINJAS as legitimate threats once again atop SHIMMER's tag division.

The March 2012 tapings were undeniably a breakout weekend for Athena. She won three matches including victories over SHIMMER OG (and arch rival) Mercedes Martinez and international star Ray, whilst even her solitary loss of the weekend came in a blockbuster near-showstealer with Nicole Matthews. She has undeniably earned her place in the main event picture and in a championship match. But she faces an incredibly dangerous champion in Saraya Knight; now more spiteful and angry than ever even after taking Cheerleader Melissa's precious SHIMMER Championship from her. Can the precocious rising talent of the Wrestling Goddess - and all the speed, precision and agility she brings with her - topple the wily, savvy British veteran?

Saraya's entrance is relatively restrained here, although she gets on the microphone instead to antagonise the fans, her opponent and send a few choice words in the direction of Cheerleader Melissa too. Athena doesn't back down and speaks back so fiercely to the champ that Knight actually threatens to walk out (having disliked being called a 'hussy'). Saraya gets to work by poking Athena in the eye as the bell rings. She drags the challenger to the mat, and Athena gets trapped trying to trade grappling holds with the veteran rather than build up any speed. It means she is too close to Knight and more eye gouges or slaps. It is only when she does break free and starts running the ropes that she does manage to land a flurry of kicks. Saraya is seen it all before though...and casually dodges an attempted springboard crossbody before climbing onto Athena again in a camel clutch. HANDSPRING SLAP by Athena! The champion immediately leaves the ring to regroup after that. Another error from Athena though as she tries to pursue Knight, who instantly trips her and gives her a leg drop on the apron. Knightmare applied early, damaging Athena's legs to negate those kicks and that speed advantage she has. Athena rallies with an enziguri, but limps away unable to capitalise. Saraya kicks at the leg again, backing her into the corner and hitting a RUNNING KNEE TO THE THIGH! Everything Saraya does is exacerbated by her constant narration and trash talking too. Athena hits a Samoan drop to shake Knight off, prompting the champ to hide in the ropes then extend an insincere offer of a handshake because she thinks Athena is 'pretty good'. No shake from Athena...but Saraya still jumps her and viciously punches her down into the corner again. Athena counters those strikes into a grounded octopus stretch...only for Knight to bite the leg to free herself then hurl the Wrestling Goddess out of the ring. Monkey flip on the floor by Athena though! She scurries up the ropes seconds later and hits a FLYING CROSSBODY TO THE FLOOR! She took a rough landing on her knees though and Knight is quickly back up to hit a HANGING DDT OFF THE APRON! Somehow Athena clings on, hitting back with a defiant low kick. O-FACE ON SARAYA! But Athena collapses and can't make a pin! Saraya in turn rolls out of the ring so she can't be covered. SUPERKICK by Athena! Knight clings to the guardrails, the apron and anything she can get her hands on so Athena can't get her into the ring for a pin. The challenger lines up the O-Face again...only for Knight to charge the ropes and cause her to fall. SHE DRAGS HER LEG-FIRST OFF THE TOP ROPE! Mexican Surfboard applied, tearing at all the body parts Knight has injured throughout the match. Bridal Rocking Horse locked in, and Athena has no choice but to tap at 19:13

Rating - **** - I was really curious to see this match. Knight is an old-school veteran, whilst in 2012 Athena was such an incredibly innovative rising superstar. There is such a huge contrast in their styles, and it turns out that made for a hell of a contest. Athena was such a unique opponent for Saraya in that she is one of the younger members of the roster but - unlike people like Veda Scott or Shazza McKenzie - she showed no fear, has a huge attitude of her own and had no problem mixing it up in verbals or strike exchanges with the champion. Everything they did felt packed with aggression as a result. As with the Melissa match, Saraya was nasty, picky and precise - trying to break her opponent down with lots of little moments of clinical savagery rather than going for enormous or dramatic knock-out blows (and punctuating everything with a pull of the hair or a poke to the eyes). Ultimately it worked as she wound up inflicting so many injuries to the challenger that Athena just couldn't muster up the wherewithal to escape the Bridal Rocking Horse at the end. But not before a hell of a fight. Every time Athena broke free of Saraya she was dangerous - be it with her kicks or with her speed. The moment where she actually hit the O-Face was awesome, as the crowd roared in excitement thinking that they might actually see a title change...only for that hope to be quickly snuffed out thanks to more brilliance from Saraya as she left the ring. The final - brutal - counter where Knight blocked the O-Face by grabbing Athena's injured leg and literally jerking her FACE-FIRST from the top rope to the canvas was gruesome too. This match brought together two of SHIMMER's hottest acts right now and it should be no surprise that they killed it. Knight's reign continues. Athena proves she belongs at the top end of the card even in defeat, and does nothing to disprove that she has a huge future in SHIMMER and in pro-wrestling more broadly.

Tape Rating - *** - The first show of a SHIMMER taping weekend is rarely an all-out blockbuster. On the one hand this is a relatively low key Volume with little standing out as genuinely 'must-see'. With the big 50th Volume up next it was never going to be an all-out, full-throttle effort from the SHIMMER crew. But on the flip side, it's a damn consistent show from top to bottom with the two championship matches that headline being really strong. There was a real theme of elevating new, fresh or younger talent from underneath all the way through the card as well. From Heather Patera's big return victory in the opener, Christina Von Eerie giving a good account of herself against Yumi Ohka, a tag debut for Made In Sin, Sassy Stephie producing her best SHIMMER match against Hiroyo Matsumoto, Courtney Rush continuing to be a beloved babyface even after Del Rey's departure, Rhia O'Reilly stepping up to Cheerleader Melissa, Davina Rose producing a positively Bayley-esque peformance against Tomoka Nakagawa, Kalamity pushing the legendary Ayako Hamada to the limit, whilst Kellie Skater looks like a more fearsome competitor with each passing match. It was a theme that carried into the main events too. The Canadian NINJAs said in a promo they wanted to prove that they were a dominant force in SHIMMER now; main event talents after years of grinding up the card. And they proved it by finding a way to win even over violent, international class opponents like Kana and LuFisto. All that before Athena competed in her first main event and didn't look remotely out of place. With each passing taping, more of the SHIMMER 'old guard' fall away, but shows like this demonstrate that in 2012 the American (and international) independent scene was absolutely awash with hungry female athletes itching for a chance to break out. Without being a top-tier SHIMMER event there is certainly plenty here to please the long term and hardcore fanbase.  

3) Mercedes Martinez vs MsChif (***)

2) Canadian NINJAs vs Kana/LuFisto (****)

1) Saraya Knight vs Athena (****)